Creating Pools for a Digital Off-Hook Configuration

This chapter explains the concept of pools and physical pools and includes guidelines, illustrations, and instructions for creating pools for a Digital Off-Hook (DOH) configuration. This chapter is oriented from the viewpoint of the operator who is using the ViewRunner graphical user interface (GUI) to set up new subscribers or to change the settings for existing subscribers.

This chapter includes the following sections:

Overview and Purpose

A pool is a logical grouping of modems and lines. This grouping achieves a particular concentration of subscriber lines to CAP ATU-C modules, such as, 1:1, 2:1, or 6:1. You can define up to three pools per physical pool. The Cisco 6100/6130 is divided into two physical pools, A and B. Physical pool A consists of every component in the top half of the chassis; physical pool B consists of the bottom half of the chassis. Once you have partitioned a chassis into physical pools A and B, you cannot change it.

Figure 2-1 shows an example of how the physical pools in the Cisco 6100/6130 are partitioned. See "Cisco 6100/6130 Module Intermixing," for an example of module placement in the Cisco 6100/6130 chassis.

Figure 2-1: Cisco 6100/6130 Physical Pools

Figure 2-2 illustrates the physical pools for the Cisco 6110.

Figure 2-2: Cisco 6110 Physical Pools

Figure 2-3 illustrates the physical pools for the Cisco 6120.

Figure 2-3: Cisco 6120 Physical Pools

Guidelines for Creating Pools

Consider the following guidelines before you set up subscriber pools:

Each Cisco 6110 and Cisco 6120 is also divided into physical pools.
- Physical pool B is the right half of the chassis. (Refer to Figure 2-1 and Figure 2-3.)
You can define up to three pools per physical pool.
Pools are constrained to physical pools; that is, a pool can contain lines and modems only from modules that are plugged into a specific physical pool. (See Figure 2-2.)
Pools are relevant only in DOH configurations, not in Direct Connect configurations.
You must associate each line port to an unlocked subscriber.
The Pool Window dialog box includes a set of Physical Pool tabs. On each Physical Pool tab, a second set of tabs shows the pools that are configured for the corresponding physical pool. Pool tabs include Pool 1 up to Pool 3.
Once you choose a pool, the Pool Window dialog box Pool tab displays the current configuration of the pool.
Each pool can contain zero or more line interface module (LIM) ports and zero or more CAP ATU-C ports. You assign lines and modems to pools for each port, not for each module.
Running totals, or summaries, of pool assignments on the Pool Window dialog box Pool tabs describe the characteristics of the ports and subscribers that are assigned to the pools.
The Over Subscription Ratios field at the top of the Pool Window dialog box Pool tab changes dynamically, according to the number of LIM ports and CAP ATU-C module ports that you add to the top list boxes.

: For more information on pools, see the Cisco 6100 with NI-1 Digital Off-Hook Installation Guide.

Using the Pool Windows Dialog Box

To create pools from physical pools, you use the Pool Window dialog box Pool tabs. The Pool Windows dialog box includes two sets of tabs that represent the pools. The highest level of tabs allows you to choose either Physical Pool A or B. Figure 2-4 shows a Pool Windows dialog box that reflects all pools assigned.

Figure 2-4: Pool Windows Dialog Box---Pool Tabs, Assigned Pools

As you add pools, the Pool tabs appear on the Pool Windows dialog box, as shown in Figure 2-5.

Figure 2-5: Pool Windows Dialog Box---Pool 3 Tab

The Pool Windows dialog box displays a variety of statistics that describe the configuration of the pools. Table 2-1 describes the fields on the Physical Pool dialog box and Pool tab.

Table 2-1: Pool Windows Dialog Box Fields

Field Description

Add Pool Now button

Use to provision up to three pools per physical pool. Pool tabs display in the order in which you create them. Therefore, if Pools 1, 2, and 3 exist and 2 is deleted, then Pool 3 becomes Pool 2.

Delete Pool Now button

Click this button to unassign any ports that are currently assigned to the selected pool, and then delete the pool.

Note ViewRunner requires all assigned LIM ports to be locked before you can delete a pool. The Delete Pool Now button is dimmed unless all assigned LIM ports are locked.

Over Subscription Ratios (OSRs)

Displays the running total of oversubscription within the currently selected pool. ViewRunner displays three different oversubscription formulas. These three ratios are described in Table 2-2.

Real-time Display of DOH Service Statistics

Displays running totals of several counts and calculated values. ViewRunner displays the following statistics when you choose the pool tab:

The number of line or CAP ATU-C ports that are assigned within the currently selected pool.

The number of line or CAP ATU-C ports that are unassigned to any pool.

The number of provisioned, unlocked ports. This is the number of ports within each list box that have the necessary Administrative state configuration to provide service.

A properly configured port must be unlocked and subordinate to an unlocked module.

Line ports have the additional requirement that each one must be associated to an unlocked subscriber.

The number of provisioned and in-service ports. The number of ports that have a Service state of In Service and are associated with an unlocked subscriber.

ViewRunner updates running totals whenever you delete a pool, or when you assign or unassign a port to or from a pool.

These statistics give a summary view of many critical service parameters for the Cisco 6100 Series system. For large system configurations, most of the list boxes on this dialog box are filled and have scroll bars. These totals provide a convenient summary and replace scrolling the list box and manually tallying DOH service parameters.

Table 2-2: Oversubscription Ratio Descriptions

OSR Description

Assigned Port

Reflects the number of line ports that are assigned to the pool divided by the number of ATU-C ports that are assigned to the pool.

This ratio is useful when you are initially configuring pools. The Assigned Port ratio is based on locked entities and displays the target oversubscription provisioning ratio for the pool.

Provisioned and Unlocked

Reflects the number of unlocked line ports that are

Assigned to the pool

Subordinate to an unlocked module

Associated with an unlocked subscriber

This number is divided by the number of unlocked ATU-C ports that are assigned to the pool and are subordinate to an unlocked module. Locking ATU-C ports increases this OSR (for example, 3:1 goes to 6:1). Locking LIMs reduces this OSR (for example, 6:1 goes to 3:1).

This ratio is useful if you want to verify whether the system is configured properly and that the entities are unlocked to support the target OSR. This ratio is equal to the assigned port OSR when you have completed all provisioning tasks that are needed to support service and have unlocked the entities.

Provisioned and In-Service

Reflects the number of in-service line ports assigned to the pool that are also associated with an unlocked subscriber. This number is divided by the number of in-service CAP ATU-C ports that are assigned to the pool.

This ratio displays the active OSR that the system is experiencing. Required configurations, administrative permissions, and the service state of the pooled ports are factored into this ratio. Provisioned and In-Service OSR includes the Operational state of the system and changes as alarms set or clear.

OSR	Description
Assigned Port	Reflects the number of line ports that are assigned to the pool divided by the number of ATU-C ports that are assigned to the pool. This ratio is useful when you are initially configuring pools. The Assigned Port ratio is based on locked entities and displays the target oversubscription provisioning ratio for the pool.
Provisioned and Unlocked	Reflects the number of unlocked line ports that are Assigned to the pool Subordinate to an unlocked module Associated with an unlocked subscriber This number is divided by the number of unlocked ATU-C ports that are assigned to the pool and are subordinate to an unlocked module. Locking ATU-C ports increases this OSR (for example, 3:1 goes to 6:1). Locking LIMs reduces this OSR (for example, 6:1 goes to 3:1). This ratio is useful if you want to verify whether the system is configured properly and that the entities are unlocked to support the target OSR. This ratio is equal to the assigned port OSR when you have completed all provisioning tasks that are needed to support service and have unlocked the entities.
Provisioned and In-Service	Reflects the number of in-service line ports assigned to the pool that are also associated with an unlocked subscriber. This number is divided by the number of in-service CAP ATU-C ports that are assigned to the pool. This ratio displays the active OSR that the system is experiencing. Required configurations, administrative permissions, and the service state of the pooled ports are factored into this ratio. Provisioned and In-Service OSR includes the Operational state of the system and changes as alarms set or clear.

Steps for Creating Pools

Complete the following steps to create a pool:

Step 1 Create populated physical pools by inserting modules into the upper and lower parts of the Cisco 6100/6130 chassis.

Step 2 Right-click the chassis rim to access the Chassis menu.

Step 3 Choose Pool Windows to open the Pool Windows dialog box (refer to Figure 2-5).

Step 4 Click the Pool tab.

The Pool Windows dialog box opens to the Physical Pool and Pool tabs.

Step 5 Click Add Pool Now on the Pool Windows dialog box.

A new Pool tab appears (Figure 2-6).

Figure 2-6: Pool Windows Dialog Box---Pool 3 Tab

Figure 2-6 shows that ViewRunner has added Pool 3. On the Pool 3 tab, the OSR field displays Assigned, but not Provisioned.

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